Mike and I will always be New Englanders at heart, and we were happy to see the Patriots win Sunday afternoon. But the Ravens impressed me, for a good many reasons. So I wanted to pass along my thoughts from the game, and hopefully hear some of yours if you are reading this!
1. Flacco - He played a good game, took what the defense gave, and didn't force throws unlike Tom Brady. He'll continue to be successful in Baltimore so long as the supporting cast holds up. A little change on the o-line and another wide receiver to help underneath, perhaps another TE that can get open and catch. Do those things and I think he'll become more successful.
2. Offense overall - Line was good at times, bad at others. Playcalling was there, the Ravens took what was given to them. I didn't like the 3rd an 1 pass play call before the final field goal attempt. A rush to pick up a first down, a few extra yards closer would have been better, at least to this couch coach. Rice would have picked up the first down and more I have no doubt had they utilized his ablities. Tough drop by Evans in the end zone. Everyone is saying it, not much you can do. 9 out of 10 times, that catch becomes a touchdown. Again, they did what they needed to do as an offense to win this game.
3. Ravens D - Made some great plays, some big plays. They won the turnover battle, and held the Patriots to field goals three times in the Red Zone. This was what was prescribed as a key to winning the game beforehand. If you told me this and nothing else without watching the game, I would assume its a Ravens win.
4. Heart - The whole Ravens team showed it, and its the intangible of a game. The past couple years, I watched a Patriots team make the playoffs and then do nothing in that game and show little to no heart as a cohesive unit. The Ravens left their all out on the field, and that is the most you can ask of any team. I commend them for it. They were right there at the end. If not for a freakish miss, this game is headed into overtime and then its anybody's ball game.
5. Cundiff - My first two thoughts immediately after the kick. 1.) Happy the Pats won and escaped by a thread. 2.) Feeling sorry for someone that I hear is a great guy, and missed an opportunity of a lifetime. It will stick with him for awhile, its just not something that goes away anytime soon. Stuff happens...but you don't miss kicks like that either, not in that situation. He will be with another team next year and we wish him the best.
Its now Monday afternoon, the Ravens are clearing out or have cleared their lockers out in Owings Mills, MD by this time. Their exit physicals and such being completed, and they will begin the travel home. It becomes something tough to swallow when you were one play from traveling to Indianapolis and Super Bowl 46. But take heart in that this team will be back. After all, when you get a taste of something that good, you want to go back for seconds.
- Greg
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